Container to hold a tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat

ABSTRACT

A container for a tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat is disclosed. The container may include tabs to non-permanently secure a tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat. The container may be split into multiple sections for ease of use and transportation. A unique method of connecting the container sections together is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND

Home owners around the world love having clean living environments, buthate the effort, time, and expense to keep their homes clean. Manyproducts aid in cleaning, but few do so while simultaneously minimizingeffort and cost. Home owners need easy to use products that reduce thecost and effort of keeping their homes clean and sanitary.

For decades, tacky, multi-layer debris collector mats have been used bycommercial and industrial industries to keep cleanroom environmentsclean and sanitary. These mats are easy to use and effective at stoppingdirt from being tracked inside sterile rooms. These mats have notsuccessfully made the transition to consumer applications, though,because of the lack of an effective, consumer-friendly container tosecurely hold the mats in a home environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousfeatures and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art byreferencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat 100according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates multiple embodiments of a mat-like container to holdthe tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat according to exampleembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the function and placement of one or more tabs on acontainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein thecontainer is divided into multiple sections according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a unique connector system for the container accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knownmethods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail inorder not to obscure an understanding of this description.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,”“various embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although it may.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinaladjectives “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., to describe a commonobject, merely indicate that different instances of like objects arebeing referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects sodescribed must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, inranking, or in any other manner.

Multiple embodiments of a container to hold a tacky, multi-layer debriscollector mat are disclosed.

FIG. 1 illustrates a multi-layer debris collector mat 100 according toan embodiment of the present invention. Mat 100 may be rectangular orsquare in shape, as illustrated. An upper and outer layer 110 includesan adhesive side 120 and a non-adhesive side 130. Adhesive side 120 ison the exposed and upper most side of tacky, multi-layer debriscollector mat 100 to collect debris. Upper and outer layer 110 may beremoved, exposing a similar layer 140 underneath. Layer 140 alsoincludes an adhesive side and a non-adhesive side in similar orientationto layer 110. Layer 140 is of a similar orientation as layer 110, suchthat an adhesive side is exposed to collect debris when layer 110 isremoved. Tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat 100 may include manylayers, for example, 36, such that mat 100 may collect debris for manymonths, for example, removing a layer every week to expose a fresh layerof adhesive.

Multi-layer debris collector mat 100 has a bottom and outer layer 150.Bottom layer 150 may have one or more adhesive portions enabling mat 100to adhere firmly to a surface, for example a floor or a container,according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment,mat 100 has an adhesive portion covering the entire bottom and outerlayer 150 of mat 100. In another embodiment, mat 100 has two adhesivestrip-shaped portions along opposing sides of bottom layer 150.

FIG. 2 illustrates multiple containers 200 for the tacky, multi-layerdebris collector mat 100, wherein the tacky, multi-layer debriscollector mat is placed in and on top of depression 205 in thecontainer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom and outer layer150 of the tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat attaches to container200 to non-permanently secure mat 100 to container 200 and provideadditional structure to both.

Container 200 may include one or multiple tabs 210, 220 or 230 to holdtacky, multi-layer debris collector mat 100 and keep it in place. Asshown in FIG. 2, tabs 210, 220 or 230 may be any of a number of shapes,including, for example, half-moon shaped, rectangular, or triangular.FIG. 2 illustrates one or more tabs 210 located at the inner corners ofcontainer 200. Alternately, container 200 may have one or more tabslocated in alternate locations, for example, along the straight edges ofdepression 205 as shown by tabs 220. In another embodiment, one largetab strip-shaped tab 230 may be used to secure mat 100 in container 200.

According to alternate embodiments, container 200 may be rectangular,oval, half-moon shaped, or shaped into a recognizable object or animalas shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates the function of one or more tabs 310 according to anembodiment of the present invention. One or more tabs 310non-permanently secure to the top layer of the tacky, multi-layer debriscollector mat 100 to aid in preventing movement of mat 100 and toprovide additional structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, tab 310 may have a tackybottom to further adhere to the tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat.

Alternate embodiments of the invention may have tab 310 made ofalternate materials, including, for example, plastic, a waterproof,flexible material, or a non-skid material, that adheres to the tacky,multi-layer debris collector mat. While tab 310 non-permanently securesthe mat in place, the mat may be removed easily when the top layer ofthe debris collector mat is ready for disposal, and then replaced whenthe next layer of the debris collector mat is ready for use.

According to alternate embodiments, container 300 may be made ofplastic, a waterproof, flexible material, or a non-skid material. In anembodiment of the present invention, the container is preferably made ofa material that adheres to a bottom, lower-most tacky portion of mat100.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the container 400may be separated into multiple sections 410 as illustrated in FIG. 4 forease of transporting and packaging. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, container 400 may have two or four sections 410.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, one or moreadhesive portions of bottom and outer layer 150 of mat 100 adheres tothe multiple sections 410, adhering the multiple sections securely andnon-permanently together, providing additional structure to container400.

FIG. 5 illustrates a unique connector system for container 500 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, each of section 510, 511, 512 and 513 of container500 includes one or more connector holes 520 and one or more connectortubes 530. Connector holes 520 may be positioned on a corner edge offirst section 510 such to fit connector tubes 530 on second section 511.Connector holes 520 on second section 511 may fit connector tubes 530 onthird section 512, and so on, until the container unit is connectedtogether.

The tacky portion(s) of bottom layer 150 of tacky, multi-layer debriscollector mat 100 may provide further connection to secure the sections510, 511, 512 and 513 of container 500 together.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the container mayhave a non-slip bottom.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tacky,multi-layer debris collector mat and container may be placed adjacent toa kitty litter box, such that any loose or stray litter may be collectedby the tacky mat as a cat exits the box, keeping the adjacent areasclean and sanitary. Although embodiments may include the use of the matand container in such a manner, other uses may include other pets andlocations, such as in an entry area to collect dog hair and any dirt orother debris from a dog's paws collected as the dog enters a home,keeping the entryway and rest of home clean and sanitary.

Realizations in accordance with the present invention have beendescribed in the context of particular embodiments. These embodimentsare meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations,modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly,plural instances may be provided for components described herein as asingle instance. Finally, structures and functionality presented asdiscrete components in the various configurations may be implemented asa combined structure or component. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mat-like container for a tacky, multi-layerdebris collector mat comprising: a rectangular depression on the uppersurface of the container configured to non-permanently hold a tacky,multi-layer debris collector mat.
 2. The container as recited in claim1, further comprising one or more tab structures for holding the tacky,multi-layer debris collector mat in place.
 3. The container as recitedin claim 2 wherein the one or more tab structures comprise a singlestrip-shaped tab along one edge of the rectangular depression.
 4. Thecontainer as recited in claim 2 wherein the one or more tab structurescomprise four triangular tabs located in each corner of the rectangulardepression.
 5. The container as recited in claim 2 wherein the one ormore tab structures adhere to an adhesive side on an exposed anduppermost side of the tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat.
 6. Thecontainer as recited in claim 2 wherein the one or more tab structureshave a tacky bottom to adhere to the tacky, multi-layer debris collectormat.
 7. The container as recited in claim 1 further comprising anon-slip bottom surface.
 8. The container as recited in claim 1comprises a material conducive for one or more adhesive potions of thebottom and out layer of the tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat toadhere to the rectangular depression.
 9. The container as recited inclaim 1 comprising multiple sections.
 10. The container as recited inclaim 9 wherein the multiple sections comprise two same-sized sections.11. The container as recited in claim 9 wherein the multiple sectionscomprise four sections.
 12. The container as recited in claim 9 whereinthe multiple sections join together securely, forming the depression onthe upper surface of the container.
 13. The container as recited inclaim 9 wherein each of the multiple sections has one or more connectorholes and one or more connector tubes to join the multiple sectionstogether.
 14. The container as recited in claim 13 wherein connectorholes are located at a corner of each of the multiple sections andconnector tubes are located at an opposite corner of each of themultiple sections.
 15. The container as recited in claim 9 wherein oneor more adhesive portions of the bottom and out layer of the tacky,multi-layer debris collector mat to adhere to each of the multiplesections, non-permanently securing the multiple sections together. 16.The container as recited in claim 9 further comprising at least one tabstructure on one of the multiple sections for holding the tacky,multi-layer debris collector mat in place.
 17. The container as recitedin claim 1 wherein the tacky bottom of the multi-layer debris collectormat adheres to the container and provides additional structure to thetacky, multi-layer debris collector mat and the container.
 18. Thecontainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the depression is configured tonon-permanently hold the tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat suchthat a tacky upper and outer layer of the multi-layer debris collectormat may be removed exposing a similar layer underneath.
 19. Thecontainer as recited in claim 1 wherein the depression is configured tonon-permanently hold the tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat suchthat the tacky, multi-layer debris collector mat may be replaced withanother multi-layer debris collector mat.